Rolls of separate self-encircling sheets

ABSTRACT

A roll of disposable pieces of hygienic paper from which pieces of hygienic paper can be removed with one hand without any need for tearing or cutting the hygienic paper, including an inner tube of a rigid material onto which the disposable pieces of hygienic paper are wrapped, with each one place in sequence with its predecessor, trailing edge to leading edge, and each disposable piece is encircled more than an entire wrap.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to rolls of disposable pieces of hygienic paper, and in particular to rolls of toilet paper and paper towels that enable removal of a piece of paper for use without needing to tear the paper prior to use, more particular to rolls of separate, self-encircling sheets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Paper is used in many forms for single-time hygienic purposes. There is a wide variety of packaging of paper towels, ranging from a simple roll of paper towels to high-quality moist towelettes in packages that enable removal of a single towelette at a time. These packages are inefficient when they do not prevent unwanted unraveling of the towelettes or are expensive. However, the packaging of hygienic paper in a long strip of paper rolled onto itself with perforated lines at regular intervals in order to facilitate tearing off pieces of paper for wiping, which are disposed of after use, is the most common type of hygienic paper currently available

Such rolls of paper can be found in dispensers of suitable sizes such as toilet paper dispensers in toilet rooms and paper towel dispensers near washbowls. Many efforts have been made to develop paper of superior qualities, which are sometimes even contradictory, such as paper strength, dimensions, softness, wiping and absorption capacity, and manufacturing cost.

A roll of disposable pieces of hygienic paper from which pieces of hygienic paper can be removed with one hand without any need for tearing or cutting is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,392,917 of Alalu Avraham (who is the inventor of the present invention), et al.

FIG. 1 a is a schematic isometric view illustration of the prior art that illustrates a stage in the production process of the roll of disposable pieces of hygienic paper, (the roll is not shown in the present drawing), according to U.S. Pat. No. 7,392,917.

Two disposable pieces 21 of hygienic paper, out of a plurality of disposable pieces, are placed partially overlapping one another and are then gathered by rolling onto an inner tube (not shown in the present drawing). Each disposable piece 21 that is designated to serve as hygienic paper has geometric dimensions, among them are: a disposable piece length a, a disposable piece width d, and a disposable piece thickness t.

As shown in this illustration, the disposable pieces 21 are placed one above the other with a deviation forming a disposable piece overlapping length b and a disposable piece end without overlapping c.

FIG. 1 b is a schematic isometric view illustration of the prior art that illustrates a prior art roll of disposable pieces of hygienic paper 1, according to U.S. Pat. No. 7,392,917.

Only part of the disposable piece length of each disposable pieces 21 has a disposable piece end without overlapping c.

The prior art roll of disposable pieces of hygienic paper 1 is complicated and expensive to manufacture, and is not sufficiently convenient to use.

There is a need for an alternative to the prior art roll of disposable pieces of hygienic paper, or for it to be improved so as to remove its aforementioned shortcomings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a roll of separate disposable sheets in which each disposable sheet has a length sufficient to encircle a substantially cylindrical support surface one time and to also at least partially encircle itself so as to hold itself on the support surface. A second, separate piece of paper is also wrapped around the previously wrapped disposable sheet and also at least partially around itself. So too, each additional disposable sheet is wrapped around the outermost, previously wrapped disposable sheet and at least partially around itself, thereby securing each disposable sheet in a rolled configuration.

According to features in embodiments of the invention, there is provided a roll of separate self-encircling sheets from which disposable pieces can be removed with one hand, the roll of separate self-encircling sheets including: (a) an inner tube of a rigid material with an axis of rotation and inner tube external radius; and (b) a plurality of disposable pieces wherein each one of the disposable pieces has length, width, and thickness dimensions, wherein each one of the disposable pieces has an inner surface, an outer surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, wherein one of the disposable pieces is rolled on the inner tube, wherein each one of all others of the disposable pieces is rolled so as to wrap another one of the disposable pieces, wherein for each two sequential he disposable pieces, the trailing edge is in close proximity to the leading edge, wherein there is a gap, which effectively equals zero, between the trailing edge and the leading edge that are in close proximity.

According to further features in embodiments of the invention, the trailing edge and the leading edge that are in close proximity are both in contact with the disposable piece outer surface of one of the disposable pieces.

According to still further features in the described embodiments each one of the disposable pieces has a shape which is effectively a cylindrical shape with an approximately circular wall, having a disposable piece center of wrap located on the axis of rotation, wherein each one of the disposable pieces has a disposable piece angle which is measured between the disposable piece leading edge and the disposable piece trailing edge of the disposable piece, and wherein the disposable piece angle is larger than three hundred and sixty degrees.

According to still further features in the described embodiments roll of separate self-encircling sheets each one of the disposable pieces includes: (i) at least one line of perforations, across a width of the disposable piece.

According to still further features in the described embodiments each one of the disposable pieces includes: (i) at least two tear notches located on the two piece side edges of the disposable piece.

According to still further features in the described embodiments each one of the disposable pieces includes: (i) at least one line of perforations, across a width of the disposable piece; and (ii) at least two tear notches located on the two piece side edges of the disposable piece.

According to features in embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method of using a roll of separate self-encircling sheets, comprising the stages of: (a) applying force on an outer disposable piece of a roll of separate self-encircling sheets; (b) dragging the outer disposable piece; (c) causing a rotation of the roll of separate self-encircling sheets; (d) rotating the roll of separate self-encircling sheets at least one revolution, before an occurrence of a separating of the outer disposable piece from the roll of separate self-encircling sheets; and (e) separating of the outer disposable piece from the roll of separate self-encircling sheets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 a is a schematic isometric view illustration of the prior art that illustrates a stage in the production process of the roll of disposable pieces of hygienic paper, according to U.S. Pat. No. 7,392,917.

FIG. 1 b is a schematic isometric view illustration of the prior art that illustrates a prior art roll of disposable pieces of hygienic paper, according to U.S. Pat. No. 7,392,917.

FIG. 2 is a schematic isometric view illustration that illustrates a stage in the production process of roll of separate self-encircling sheets, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 a is a schematic side view illustration of a disposable piece of a hygienic paper, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 b is a schematic side view illustration of a disposable piece of a hygienic paper, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic isometric view illustration of a disposable piece of a hygienic paper, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially exploded isometric schematic illustration of a roll of separate, self-encircling sheets, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view illustration of a disposable piece of a hygienic paper, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view illustration of two disposable pieces of a hygienic paper, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view illustration of one hand dragging one disposable piece of a hygienic paper, from a roll of separate self-encircling sheets, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a method for separating of outer disposable piece from a roll of separate self-encircling sheets, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a roll of separate, self-encircling sheets, which enables removal of pieces of paper from it without any need for tearing or cutting the paper.

Tests conducted on this roll of hygienic paper according to embodiments of the present invention show that the invention is simpler and less expensive to manufacture than the prior art.

The principles and operation of a roll of separate, self-encircling sheets according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying descriptions.

To remove any doubt, note that the manner in which the elements of the present invention are described in the illustrations can be highly detailed, however is not in any way limiting the present illustration, however is for the purpose of clarification and furthering understanding. The present invention can be implemented in embodiments that differ from the specification given with regard to the illustration.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The materials, dimensions, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting.

According to the present invention, in a non-limiting, illustrative example in which each disposable sheet has a length of 45 centimeters, a first disposable sheet is wrapped around a tube; the tube has an outer diameter of 4.5 centimeters (cm). It follows that the outer circumference of the tube is 4.5 cm×3.14=14.13 cm. Accordingly, the first disposable sheet encircles the tube leaving approximately (45.0−14.1) cm=30.9 cm of length to encircle itself approximately 30.9 cm/14.1 cm=2.2 additional times. This illustrative example is based on ignoring the thickness of the disposable sheet and the consequent change in effective diameter. If, however, we consider that the thickness of each additional disposable sheet that increases the effective diameter spanning the outmost support surfaces it follows that the outermost disposable sheet will encircle itself to a lesser extent than the innermost disposable sheet encircled itself. By way of second illustrative, non-limiting example, assuming that a typical complete roll contains 41 disposable sheets whose thickness accumulates to a diameter of 9.8 cm, it follows that each disposable sheet of 45 cm in length encircles the circumference of (9.8×3.1) cm=30.4 cm about one and a half times. A disposable sheet even partially encircling itself is secured to the roll until pulled off.

The present invention teaches a second feature directed at facilitating the tearing of each disposable sheet into a smaller length by providing a set of tear notches disposed on opposite sides of each disposable. It should be appreciated that a plurality of tear notch sets disposed anywhere along the length of each of disposable sheet is included within the scope of the present invention. The disposable sheets can also include perforations to further facilitate tearing a disposable sheet into smaller sections.

The above-described packaging of separate disposable sheets and the tear aids advantageously enable users to remove single disposable sheets from the roll without tearing or to pull a disposable sheet from the roll and then tear it.

The above described invention advantageously has application as toilet paper, paper towels, paper table mats, paper table cloths, sheets of plastic table cloths, and plastic trash bags or other items configurable as sheets that can be rolled. It should be noted that sheets of absorbent tissue and paper, non-absorbent paper and plastic sheets are all included in the scope of the present invention, even when they are designated for recurring use.

Typically, a shaft is inserted inside an inner tube around which the sheets are wound so as to enable rotation of the roll as the sheets are pulled from it.

The following list is a legend of the numbering of the application illustrations:

-   -   1 prior art roll of disposable pieces of hygienic paper     -   2 roll of separate self-encircling sheets     -   12 inner tube     -   21 disposable piece (of hygienic paper)     -   21 i disposable piece inner surface     -   21 l disposable piece leading edge     -   21 n tear notch     -   21 o disposable piece outer surface     -   21 p lines of perforations     -   21 s disposable piece side edge     -   21 t disposable piece trailing edge     -   50 hand     -   a disposable piece length     -   b disposable piece overlapping length     -   c disposable piece end without overlapping     -   d disposable piece width     -   e gap (between two sequential disposable pieces)     -   l arc     -   n number of encircles     -   O disposable piece center of wrap     -   P plane     -   Rp disposable piece radius of wrap     -   Rt inner tube external radius     -   t disposable piece thickness     -   F force     -   y-y axis of rotation     -   Alfa disposable piece angle     -   Beta rotational angle (of a roll of disposable pieces of         hygienic paper)     -   Gamma angle (defining proximity)

Referring now to the drawings;

FIG. 2 is a schematic isometric view illustration that illustrates a stage in the production process of roll of separate self-encircling sheets 2, (not shown in the present drawing), according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Two disposable pieces 21 of hygienic paper, out of a plurality of disposable pieces, are placed with no overlapping among them, on the same plane P, and are then gathered by rolling onto an inner tube (not shown in the present drawing). Each disposable piece 21 that is designated to serve as hygienic paper has geometric dimensions, also including: a disposable piece length a, a disposable piece width d, and a disposable piece thickness t.

The dimension of the length a must be sufficiently large to enable at least one full wrap of the disposable piece 21.

Each disposable piece 21 also has a disposable piece inner surface 21 i, which becomes the internal side after rolling, a disposable piece outer surface 21 o, which becomes the external side after rolling, a disposable piece leading edge 21 l, which becomes the front side and leader when being pulled for the purpose of separating a disposable piece 21, and a disposable piece trailing edge 21 t, which becomes the rear side when being pulled for the purpose of separation.

Between two sequential disposable pieces 21 there is a gap e. Gap e can be formed in the process of cutting a large strip of material, such as hygienic paper, from which the disposable pieces 21 are made. Gap e is measured between a disposable piece trailing edge 21 t and a disposable piece leading edge 21 l of the disposable piece 21, and its value can be practically zero, or smaller by several orders of magnitude than the dimension of the disposable piece width d.

At this stage of the process, the fact that both sequential disposable pieces 21 are placed on the same plane and without any overlap is of significance, for the purpose of the configuration intended to be achieved after rolling and wrapping sequential disposable pieces 21 one upon the other.

In comparison with a similar stage according to the prior art, according to the present invention the disposable piece overlapping length b equals zero, and the disposable piece end without overlapping c equals to the disposable piece length a.

FIG. 3 a is a schematic side view illustration of a disposable piece 21 of a hygienic paper, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The disposable piece 21 in the present drawing is in a rolled state.

In this state, the shape of the disposable piece 21 is effectively a cylinder with an approximately circular wall, having a disposable piece center of wrap O.

This state is achieved after the disposable piece leading edge 21 l has been rolled by an angle equal to disposable piece angle Alfa, which is measured between the disposable piece leading edge 21 l and the disposable piece trailing edge 21 t.

For the purpose of successful function, the disposable piece angle Alfa must be larger than 360 degrees.

The circle has a disposable piece radius of wrap Rp.

The disposable piece angle Alfa also depends upon the disposable piece radius of wrap Rp of one subsequently internal disposable piece 21.

Note that the material of which the disposable piece 21 is composed is not rigid, and usually also not elastic, seeing as the shape of a roll of separate self-encircling sheets 2 is not maintained intact for a long time.

FIG. 3 b is a schematic side view illustration of a disposable piece 21 of a hygienic paper, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the configuration shown in the present illustration, the disposable piece 21 includes two encircles n.

FIG. 4 is a schematic isometric view illustration of a disposable piece 21, of a hygienic paper, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The origin of the disposable piece radius of wrap Rp, the disposable piece center of wrap O, is laying on an axis of rotation Y-Y.

FIG. 5 is a partially exploded isometric schematic illustration of a roll of separate self-encircling sheets 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The roll of separate self-encircling sheets 2 shown in the present illustration includes an inner tube 12 and three disposable pieces 21, a state which is achieved toward fully using up the roll of separate self-encircling sheets 2.

The inner tube 12 can be of various materials including cardboard.

The inner tube 12 has an inner tube external radius Rt whose origin is a disposable piece center of wrap O, which is laying on an axis of rotation Y-Y.

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view illustration of a disposable piece 21 of a hygienic paper, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The disposable piece 21 is spread out and carrying additional possible means to facilitate tearing it into smaller parts. On either of its disposable piece side edges 21 s are tear notches 21 n.

Likewise, there are lines of perforations 21 p across the width of the disposable piece 21.

The present invention is not limited to any specific shape, size, or location of the tear notches 21 n and is not limited to any location of the lines of perforations 21 p or any of their other parameters.

Note that the inclusion of tear notches 21 n and/or lines of perforations 21 p is not necessary according to the present invention, and is in no way limiting the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view illustration of two disposable pieces 21, of a hygienic paper, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

One disposable piece 21 is rolled so as to wrap a second disposable piece 21.

The illustration marks detail A in a circle, which is magnified in the circle on the lower left side of the illustration.

The disposable piece inner surfaces 21 i that are in close proximity to a disposable piece trailing edge 21 t and to a disposable piece leading edge 21 l of two sequential disposable pieces 21, and between which there is a gap e (which can be effectively equal zero), are both in contact with a disposable piece outer surface 21 o of the disposable pieces 21, the more internal one.

For strictly illustrative purposes, the present illustration shows a gap between every two adjacent disposable pieces 21 and between all parts of each disposable piece 21 wrapped onto each other, even though these gaps are nonexistent in reality.

Use of the term “proximity” and the like is for the purpose of clarifying the configuration according to the present invention and is in no way limiting the present invention to any specific distance from the disposable piece leading edge 21 l and from the disposable piece trailing edge 21 t, and in any case includes the arc formed upon the disposable piece 21 by an angle Gamma whose origin is disposable piece center of wrap O and whose value is no smaller than twenty degrees.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view illustration of one hand 50 dragging one disposable piece 21, of a hygienic paper, from a roll of separate self-encircling sheets 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

During activation of force F upon the most external disposable piece 21 at that given time, it starts to be pulled, and causes rotation of roll of separate self-encircling sheets 2.

The pulling continues until the disposable piece 21 is separated from the roll of separate self-encircling sheets 2.

The rotation has rotational angle Beta, which like the disposable piece angle Alfa, for the purpose of successful function, must be larger than 360 degrees too.

In this process, a part separates, from the roll of separate self-encircling sheets 2, which is in extension of the disposable piece leading edge 21 l of the subsequent disposable piece 21.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a method for separating of outer disposable piece from a roll of separate self-encircling sheets, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The method includes:

Applying force, which can be done by one hand, on an outer disposable piece of a roll of separate self-encircling sheets (stage 31);

Dragging the outer disposable piece (stage 32);

Causing a rotation of the roll of separate self-encircling sheets (stage 33);

Rotating the roll of separate self-encircling sheets at least one revolution, before an occurrence of a separating of said outer disposable piece from the roll of separate self-encircling sheets (stage 34); and

Separating of the outer disposable piece from the roll of separate self-encircling sheets (stage 35).

This method is particularly effective when using roll of separate self-encircling sheets according to the present invention.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. 

1. A roll of separate self-encircling sheets from which disposable pieces can be removed with one hand, the roll of separate self-encircling sheets comprising: (a) an inner tube of a rigid material with an axis of rotation and inner tube external radius; and (b) a plurality of disposable pieces wherein each one of said disposable pieces has length, width, and thickness dimensions, wherein each one of said disposable pieces has an inner surface, an outer surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, wherein one of said disposable pieces is rolled on said inner tube, wherein each one of all others of said disposable pieces is rolled so as to wrap another one of said disposable pieces, wherein for each two sequential said disposable pieces, said trailing edge is in dose proximity to said leading edge, wherein there is a gap, which effectively equals zero, between said trailing edge and said leading edge that are in close proximity.
 2. The roll of separate self-encircling sheets of claim 1, wherein said trailing edge and said leading edge that are in close proximity are both in contact with said disposable piece outer surface of one of said disposable pieces.
 3. The roll of separate self-encircling sheets of claim 2, wherein each one of said disposable pieces has a shape which is effectively a cylindrical shape with an approximately circular wall, having a disposable piece center of wrap located on said axis of rotation, wherein each one of said disposable pieces has a disposable piece angle which is measured between said disposable piece leading edge and said disposable piece trailing edge of said disposable piece, and wherein said disposable piece angle is larger than three hundred and sixty degrees.
 4. The roll of separate self-encircling sheets of claim 3, wherein each one of said disposable pieces includes: (i) at least one line of perforations, across a width of said disposable piece.
 5. The roll of separate self-encircling sheets of claim 3, wherein each one of said disposable pieces includes: (i) at least two tear notches located on said two piece side edges of said disposable piece.
 6. The roll of separate self-encircling sheets of claim 3, wherein each one of said disposable pieces includes: (i) at least one line of perforations, across a width of said disposable piece; and (ii) at least two tear notches located on said two piece side edges of said disposable piece.
 7. A method of using a roll of separate self-encircling sheets, comprising the stages of: (a) applying force on an outer disposable piece of a roll of separate self-encircling sheets; (b) dragging said outer disposable piece; (c) causing a rotation of said roll of separate self-encircling sheets; (d) rotating said roll of separate self-encircling sheets at least one revolution, before an occurrence of a separating of said outer disposable piece from said roll of separate self-encircling sheets; and (e) separating said outer disposable piece from said roll of separate self-encircling sheets. 